Garment With Flaps That Fold Away and Secure Below the Neckline

Abstract

The present invention is a garment that has two selectable neckline configurations, open and closed. The garment has a frontal closure. In the closed configuration, the frontal closure is closed to the neck. In the open configuration, the frontal closure is open over some interval below the neck. On each side of the frontal closure near the neckline, the garment has a respective proximal flap fastener. There is also a distal flap fastener that is further away from the neckline and from the closure than is the proximal flap fastener, and is usually below the proximal flap fastener. The garment near the intersection of the neckline and the frontal closure on either side can be folded down along a crease line, forming a flap on each side of the closure with the proximal and distal flap fasteners coupled.

1 . A garment having an open neck configuration and an alternative configuration with a closed neck, comprising:
 a) a neckline, defined as an edge of garment material that encircles a wearer's neck in the closed neck configuration;   b) a frontal closure extending from the neckline to a second point below the neckline, separating left side material of the garment from right side material of the garment;   c) one or more closure fasteners in the left side material adapted to couple with one or more closure fasteners in the right side material, thereby allowing the frontal closure to selectively be either fastened from a neckline point proximate to the neckline to a second point below the first point, or be unfastened from the first point to the second point, whereby, in the closed neck configuration, the frontal closure is fastened from the neckline point to the second point;   d) in the left side material, a proximal left flap fastener and a distal left flap fastener, such that in the closed neck configuration, the proximal left flap fastener is proximate to the neckline and to the frontal closure, and the distal left flap fastener is further from the neckline and from the frontal closure than the proximal left flap fastener; and   e) in the right side material, a proximal right flap fastener and a distal right flap fastener, such that in the closed neck configuration, the proximal right flap fastener is proximate to the neckline and to the frontal closure, and the distal right flap fastener is further from the neckline and from the frontal closure than the proximal right flap fastener;   wherein, in the open neck configuration
 (i) the frontal closure is unfastened from the neckline point to a third point, below the neckline point, the third point being not necessarily distinct from the second point, 
 (ii) the left side material is folded down from the neckline, and forms a left flap, with the proximal left flap fastener coupled to the distal left flap fastener, and 
 (iii) the right side material is folded down from the neckline, and forms a right flap, with the proximal right flap fastener coupled to the distal right flap fastener. 
   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a collarless garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the garment is a baby garment. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the garment is pajamas or a one-piece bodysuit. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the garment is adapted to an elderly care, health care, or athletic application. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 f) a ribbed, gathered, embroidered, or scalloped border that edges at least a portion of the neckline.   
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the closure fasteners include a first plurality of snaps in the left side material and a second plurality of snaps in the right snap material, the snaps in the first plurality being adapted to being selectively coupled to, or uncoupled from, mating snaps in the second plurality. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a first zipper half is a closure fastener in the left side material and a matching zipper half is a closure fastener in the right side material, the matching zipper half being adapted to coupling with the first zipper half. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal left flap fastener is a first snap, and the distal left flap fastener is a second snap, the first snap adapted to being selectively coupled to, or uncoupled from, the second snap. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein, when the garment is in the open neck configuration, the left and right flaps have essentially triangular shapes. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal left flap fastener or the proximal right flap fastener is one of the closure fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein said proximal left flap fastener or proximal right flap fastener is a bidirectional snap. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein both the proximal left flap fastener and the proximal right flap fastener are also the closure fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a first snap is a socket snap and is one of the closure fasteners, and the second snap is the proximal left flap fastener or the proximal right flap fastener, the first snap and the second snap each having a respective centerline, the centerline of the first snap and the centerline of the second snap approximately coinciding when the garment is worn as intended. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein the centerline of the first snap is within 3 mm of the centerline of the second snap when the garment is worn as intended. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flap fasteners is a snap, that snap enclosing at least two layers of material, one of the layers being significantly more tear resistant than the remaining layers. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flap fasteners is a button, a zipper, or a VELCRO® fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein bordering at least a segment of the neckline are an outer layer of material and an inner layer of material, the inner layer of material being softer than the outer layer of material. 
     
     
         19 . A garment having an open neck configuration and an alternative configuration with a closed neck, comprising:
 a) a neckline, defined as an edge of garment material that encircles a wearer's neck in the closed neck configuration, wherein bordering the neckline are at least an outer layer of material and an inner layer of material, the inner layer of material being softer than the outer layer of material;   b) a frontal closure extending from the neckline to a second point below the neckline, separating left side material of the garment from right side material of the garment;   c) a plurality of frontal closure snaps in the left side material adapted to couple with one or more frontal closure snaps in the right side material, thereby allowing the frontal closure to selectively be either fastened from a neckline point proximate to the neckline to a third point, not necessarily distinct from the second point, below the first point or be unfastened from the first point to the third point, whereby, in the closed neck configuration of the garment, the frontal closure is fastened from the neckline point to the third point;   d) in the left side material, a proximal left flap snap fastener and a distal left flap snap fastener, such that in the closed neck configuration, the proximal left flap snap fastener is proximate to the neckline and to the frontal closure, and the distal left flap snap fastener is further from the neckline and from the frontal closure than the proximal left flap snap fastener; and   e) in the right side material, a proximal right flap snap fastener and a distal right flap snap fastener, such that in the closed neck configuration, the proximal right flap snap fastener is proximate to the neckline and to the frontal closure, and the distal right flap snap fastener is further from the neckline and from the frontal closure than the proximal right flap snap fastener, wherein at least one of the proximal left flap snap fasteners or the proximal right flap snap fasteners is also one of the frontal closure snaps;   wherein
 (i) in the open neck configuration
 (A) the frontal closure is unfastened from the neckline point to a second point below the neckline point, 
 (B) the left side material is folded down from the neckline, and forms an essentially triangular left flap, with the proximal left flap snap fastener coupled to the distal left flap snap fastener, and 
 (C) the right side material is folded down from the neckline, and forms an essentially triangular right flap, with the proximal right flap snap fastener coupled to the distal right flap snap fastener, and 
 
 (ii) the garment is a collarless garment. 
   
     
     
         20 . A bidirectional garment snap, comprising:
 a) a first closure structure in an outer surface of a first snap section;   b) a second closure structure in an outer surface of a second snap section, wherein each closure structure is either a stud structure or a socket structure; and   c) attachment means for coupling an inner surface of the first snap section to an inner surface of the second snap section through a layer of fabric, such that the first closure structure and the second closure structure have a common centerline.